Research themes

Neuromorphic Systems & Algorithms

Neuromorphic VLSI Systems
This research theme concentrates on the development of computational models and implementing them using analog/digital VLSI circuits or FPGA for building real-time distributed neural processing systems.

Novel Learning Algorithms for Neuromorphic Chips
Neuromorphic systems are based on the mechanisms of adaptation and learning, and are modeled after the plasticity of synapses and neural structures in biological systems. We explore various supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms (including event-based learning) optimized for implementation on hardware, on either analog or digital chips (or FPGA). We will test these learning algorithms on our general-purpose neuromorphic simulators such as the IFAT.

Neuromorphic Sensors and their Applications
In this research theme, we explore neuromorphic sensors (currently, vision and auditory modalities) to build various intelligent systems that could be used for various robotics and military applications. Neuromorphic silicon retinas aim to mimic the features of biological retinas to sense and process the visual world. Examples of such silicon retinas are the Asynchronous Time-based Imaging Sensor (ATIS) and the Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS). In-house, we have developed an electronic model of the cochlea, which has been used for various auditory processing and machine hearing tasks such as to solve cocktail party problem in real time.

NeuroElectronic Hybrid System
This project aims to integrate biological neurons, developed using in vitro culture, with silicon neuronal circuits for machine learning tasks. This will pave the way to build a brain-machine interface, where our NeuroElectronic hybrid system could be directly interfaced to the nervous tissue and could communicate with the nervous system in its native “language” (i.e., spikes), with very low power constraints.

Machine Learning

Hardware Accelerators for Machine Learning
The proposed research aims to make battery-powered mobile devices as powerful as supercomputers for pattern recognition tasks. To achieve this aim, we will build a massively parallel low-power neuromorphic coprocessor, specifically designed to implement deep learning neural networks. The coprocessor will be developed as an open-source design run on commercially available Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), so that it will be available to thousands of research groups worldwide. This coprocessor will be developed using the standard Application Specified Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design flow, such that they can be seamlessly integrated into existing processors or manufactured on dedicated ICs using state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies for the best performance per watt.

Machine Learning for Intelligent Systems
In this research theme, we focus on creating systems to utilize and learn from large sets of data. We explore various machine learning algorithms including unsupervised learning algorithms, which extract the features from the data instead of using handcrafted features.

Bioelectronics

This research aims to develop circuits and systems for biomedical applications. This work will be conducted in close collaboration with clinicians. We are also interested in developing the EEG based Brain-computer interface system for neurorehabilitation.

Stochastic Electronics

In this research theme, we draw inspiration from the brain and investigate how “stochastic facilitation” could be used to perform useful and precise computation. We explore non-deterministic methodologies for computation in hardware and introduce the concept of stochastic electronics, a new way to design circuits and increase performance in noisy and mismatched fabrication environments.This work also involves a novel approach for implementing probabilistic networks using simple logic gates, with the ability to perform computation in real time.